Benone

I have just had a great day kitesurfing at benone beach. Best day yet, riding reasonable distances in both directions, although still quite inconsistent. Just need more practice. More north winds please. And strong :)

Google streetview

Just noticed the streetview has been updated for the local area. Not completed yet, but a good coverage of the Magilligan area

Mussenden Temple

XBMC

For years we enjoyed XBMC running on several networked softmodded XBOX consoles around the house, delivering SD and HD content to our televisions.

Since then the TiVo/XBMC solution was retired in favour of Vista Media Center, which provides a simple solution for media to TV, including dual tuners, and playing divx and xvid etc. It also acts as a server to the very clever media center extenders, which provide the same functionality to other TVs around the house.

Recently I upgraded to Windows 7, which adds some functionality, but is altogether nicer and a more modern experience. Also includes xvid and divx out of the box. However, it doesn't support MKV files, and although a codec can be obtained I fought for several hours to get it to pass Dolby directly to the optical output.

I gave up, and decided to try the XBMC for windows download. Fantastic piece of software, runs straight out of the box, easy to add media folders, and plays everything! The people at microsoft could learn a bit from XBMC - the options to change to digital audio output and other simple changes are right on the screen. There is a slider to correct audio/video sync issues. There is also the option to automatically set the display to 50 or 60 Hz depending on the source. Very clever stuff. And simple. Pay attention Microsoft.

No fuel

Went out to start the car, but it just turned and turned, without a kick. I hadn't noticed the whirr of the fuel pump, so I decided to check to see if there was petrol getting to the front, and when I disconnected the hose, there was none.

As this happened before, just a few months ago, I knew exactly where to look. Jobs are always easier the second time.

This meant I couldn't make the journey to work, so I split the day between working from home, and car maintenance.

A quick post to the scoobyireland.com forum told me I could pick up a brand new one in Magherafelt, so I set off before lunchtime. Of course this journey was made much more difficult by last nights snow - although there was only a few centimetres it was freezing hard, and it lay, making even main roads treacherous.

I picked up the pump, and later on got it fitted. It is quite a relief when you turn the key and the engine starts.

Later on this evening I tidied everything up, screwed the seats back in etc, and that's the job done. Wonder what the next component to fail will be.....

Garage completed

Today the last part of the work on the garage was finally completed. The contractor returned to fit the downpipes to the guttering, and that was the job done.

But that is not how I know the job is done - I know it's done because of the bill that landed through the letterbox :)

Garage update

Over the last 5-6 weeks not much happened with the garage, it was waiting for the plasterer to return. Saturday two weeks ago the electrician came and put in the first fix electric, and couldn't go any further until the two remaining walls were plastered.

This week the plasterer returned, and finished off the two internal walls. With the reasonable weather outside he was able to dash some more too, and a couple more days outside should get the dashing done. Then it's just the bases to rub up.

Yesterday the electrician returned to start the second fix, and got on fairly well, although there is still a few hours work left.

No pictures I'm afraid, as the daylight hours are few, and by the time I remember to take some each day it is dark :)

A week off

We have all been off work and school this week, and as usual we have been busy. I had quite a bit of tidying up to do to the paved area, and I had managed to get a Saturday or two at it, but what I needed was a sustained effort. I started on Monday, and finished this morning.

Lots of the edge flags had been cut, but not placed, and it took quite a bit of preparation to make the area ready for them. The adjacent sand and cement mix had hardened and needed chiseled out to enable new mix to be laid to bed in the edging.

There were kerbs to be laid for the edge at the

front, so we got that done too, and placed the flags in behind them.

Perhaps

the most challenging cutting I had to do was the bit around the manhole. This was tricky because the slabs that had been left out created a space that wasn't really very square, and also cutting slabs to fit inside the manhole cover was extremely delicate. Worth it in the end.

The doorstep at the patio was also finished, just this morning. I had to build the edge and then fill in the centre with concrete, and when that had hardened I laid the paving stones.

The plasterer has also been here, but only for two days, and has most of

the inside rubbed up, and all four corners done now. Lets hope it doesn't rain tonight!

Roof Tiles

After another bit of a break the contractor was back today and got the roof tiled. They intended to do it last Friday, but it was such a miserable day they just gave up and went home.

Today the tiles went on at an incredible rate, and late in the afternoon they had it finished.

As a bonus the plasterer arrived today, and by the end of the day he had three of the exterior walls scratched.

At the beach

This morning instead of my normal Sunday lie-in I decided I would take advantage of the moderate Westerly wind and head to the beach.

I arrived at the beach just after sunrise, and had a reasonable session, although the waves were a little too huge for me. For the first time I was riding a little in my bad direction.

I can't wait until I'm out with some of the more experienced guys again, 'cause I'll be looking for some advice, and also its a little scary being out there on your own. If you lose your board, or get into any sort of trouble, you have no help, so I was being cautious, staying within my depth at all times etc. What I really need to do at this stage is start off out beyond the breaking waves, so I have more uninterrupted water to practice in. The problem with that further out, better water is that it is so much more dangerous.

Out of the water and packed up for just after 9am, driving back across the beach I spotted Alan, who is one of the other regulars. Spoke briefly, and left him to it, apparently he had a good session too. Can't wait until next time!

Roof felt on

Trusses on!

Today the trusses were put on. Yesterday the workmen were back and started the work, but really just got the preparation work completed. Today they came back, and very quickly finished the job.

The brickies were also back and almost finished off the pillars at the road. Just the pillar caps to go on.

The good thing about seeing the trusses on was that I could see the size of the room it gives above the garage - that's the place that all the stuff w

e should throw out, but will keep for years will stay. It will be a good size of a room.

Step foundation

The slow progress continues on the paved area. Today we used the mixer that the builders have left to mix some concrete for the foundation of a step at the conservatory doors.

Trusses arrive

The trusses arrived today, but no-one is here to put them on :(

Best day yet.

In March, when Marty and I were in California for 3 weeks with work we were determined to have a good holiday, as well as doing whatever work had to get done. Every day when we went somewhere we enjoyed it more than the previous day, Big Bear, Sunset Beach, San Diego, Vegas, Grand Canyon, Beverly Hills. Each day we acknowledged that we'd had the 'best day yet'. Well, today was another 'best day yet'.

A few months ago the guys at scoobyireland had arranged to hold a "rolling road" day, and today was that day. It had finally come round; it's something I've always wanted to do, I would have loved to have put my GTE Astra on the rollers as I'm sure it was pulling close to 200bhp.

Anyway, headed off this morning for AI Autosport near Randalstown, and was the first one there, so got first shot on the rollers. I'd hoped this wouldn't happen as it would have been nice to see what goes on before actually going. Phil reversed the car onto the rollers and they got it tied down with ratchet straps. Because my car was the first of the day the rollers had to be heated up, so he took the car up to 100mph and ran it there for a few minutes.

Then the run began, the car is held at 3000rpm for a few seconds to calibrate the machine, af

ter which the operator lets it rev lower, and then floors it. The graph is updated live on the machine, although its hard to see what is actually happening on the screen; there is so much information.

My car ran twice, once on SUL, and once on LPG. I was really curious about both runs because the car has 135000 miles on it, and IMO it has never really been going 100%, so I was expecting less than the stock 208bhp for the petrol, and slightly more on the LPG as it has a higher octane rating (apparently).

Wrong. 251bhp (219 at the wheels) on the SUL, and 240 (203 at the wheels) on the LPG.

Fantastic result, and although it cost £70 for the two runs, I think it was a good economy, as I was thinking about a chip, or boost controller, but sure now I don't need one, I'm already 20% over stock power!

Next it was off to Benone for a spot of kitesurfing. It was alright, first ride was the best going slightly upwind, after that it was a series of sinking, or crashing into waves etc. Then the wind died etc, so not a great session, but great to get out again for the first time in 3 weeks, after our wind drought!

Finally I have just spent over 7 hours painting in the living room. It's well overdue as with a coal fire burning there is a lot of soot. Now its got a nice fresh coat of paint. Actually found the job strangely enjoyable today, I'm sure that feeling couldn't last!

Garage - Day 5 - Brickwork complete

The brickies finished off the brickwork of the garage today, so we have to wait for a week for the trusses to arrive.

While the brickies were here we decided to put their skills to good use, and they finished off the copings on the wall. This was probably a wise decision, as it took them about a full day in total, so I don't think I could have done nearly as good a job.

After marking out the sizings for the pillars and wall at the road we got the foundations dug and poured today. Now all we need is the building done!

Garage - Day 4

More work on the garage today, and we also marked out at the roadside where we hope to put pillars and a wall.

Garage - Day 3

Garage - Day 2

Garage - Day 1

The workers arrived today to start the garage. I expect it'll not take them long to put it up, at least they're getting great weather for starting.

Moving shed

In preparation for the garage getting built we had to clear out the accumulated rubbish from the foundations. For the most part this meant lifting wood and other rubbish, but the biggest item was the garden shed, which was a quite substantial task.

After preparing the path we got the heavy lifting machinary in and got it delicately balanced on the forks. Matthew kindly drove it all the way around to its new resting position, where it will stay until the real garage gets done.

Now we just have to wait for the builders to turn up :)