 |
So why not see if PugHearts can help you knock an item of Santa's list!
PugHearts of Houston, the rescue for which I am the webmaster, is holding a Raffle for a COACH handbag. Go on over and take a look... you never know... it could be you!
I now have a craving for good old fashioned British Fish’n’Chips! Why?
Because Robbi just sent me a Daily Mail article with this picture!
COD & CHIPS with SALT’N’VINEGAR!!! YUM!!
She knows how much I miss them! And I know she developed a taste for them too! You just cannot beat a good serving of Fish’n’Chips!
Richard
As Robbi mentioned in the last post, we have not got the boat yet – and it’s not just because of the bad weather. Unfortunately the dealer we were getting the Sea Ray from started to move the goalposts and we opted to cancel the order as opposed to getting something we really did not want. As it happens though, this turned out to be a good move on our part – as we put a little extra thought into deciding what we should do next.
Our initial purchase of the Sea Ray was based on getting a boat that would fit in the garage, which was very limiting when it came to length. In fact we only had about 20 foot to play with and this meant we were restricted to getting a boat that was about 18ft maximum and a trailer length of 20 foot with a swing away tongue. As most boaters will know, that does not leave you much choice, especially when you want a boat with more than the usual 135hp engine. Anyway, the Sea Ray actually had a 190hp engine, but it turned out that in the end they could not provide it in the color we wanted, nor with the extras we wanted. Needless to say – we cancelled. Luckily Texas is a state where deposits are 100% refundable by law. So no loss on our part.
Anyway, in the search for a new boat – we actually decided to do away with the idea of keeping the boat in the garage and opted for storing it at a local storage facility in Seabrook – this gives us much more scope for power and length of the boat. We have looked at SO MANY boats in the past weeks including Sea Ray, Chaparral, VIP and Tahoe. All of them are very nice and have great features – but they all had one thing in common. You have to buy the extras to get the specification you want. Myself and Robbi hate that, and it was only when I stumbled across a review of a Yamaha Jet-Boat that we actually found something that not only suited our needs, but it exceeded them! So we have opted for, ordered and are now awaiting delivery on the 21st July, a Yamaha SX210 Jet Boat. This puppy has 2 engines, 220hp, seating for 9, all the extras you would ever need and is more than perfect for a shallow lake launching.
We will of course have plenty of photos when it arrives– the kids all have life-jackets and harnesses ready for when we take her out!
We are still working on a name, but at the moment the favorite is “Alfie’s Wings”.
Richard
My posting to the blog has been erratic of late to say the least, and today my thoughts have been all over the place. So what better place to let it all out than here...
Moving to Texas was not just a change of country for me and the boys, it was also a change of lifestyle and a change of career. In the UK I was a very successful IT contractor who was never without work knocking at my door. Giving up life in the UK also meant giving up that comfort. But I suppose I was also in a lucky position to have that sort of flexibility in my life.
Its been 5 months now since I did any "paid" work in IT, but I have kept my hand in and I still maintain my skills in Microsoft and other products - but I have also been honing my Photography Skills and increasing my understanding with a view to a career change. It's been difficult making the choice - as I know I can basically walk into a similar IT career in the USA without much difficulty. But I want out.
With that in mind I have decided to make a career in Photography - specifically Real Estate. There are so many options for doing things "different" to the mainstream Real Estate Point and Click mob that I think it would be crazy of me to pass up a chance to do something I really enjoy - taking photos. And the fact that I can combine my IT skills to provide something unique and different to my clients just makes the whole idea so much more appealing for me.
RiRo Consultants is born, so all I have to do now is get the website finished, wait for the business cards to come from the printers and get out there and sell myself. I see a fun time ahead of me!
Wish me luck.... Please? It's scary too!
Richard
Having just sold my semi-pro and professional Canon MiniDV camcorders this last week, we decided that it would be a shame not to document the trip over to the states especially now that we are going on the Queen Mary 2.
So after lots of "ooo-ing" and "ahh-ing" I bit the bullet and order a Sony HDR-HC3E HDV 1080i Camcorder.
This thing is SMALL!!!, it will fit quite easily in the palm of my hand (I have big hands, but it will also fit in Robbi's too!) and also quite easily into a handbag.
As soon as it arrives (2 to 5 days) I will get some practice in with Denny and Charlie. Its about time Charlie made his debut on the LCD screen!
This makes me very happy as I have invested a lot of money over the past few years on a wide selection of Dynax Lenses and ancillary equipment.
I honestly thought that when Konica Minolta annouced it was ceasing production of the Dynax SLR that I had wasted a lot of money. Lets just hope that this latest Sony marvell will be what we all wanted from Konica Minolta.... A full frame CCD Digital SLR with a minium of 8 Megapixels.
Sony Press ReleaseSony Marks Entry Into Digital Single Lens Reflex Camera Market With New Symbolic Alpha Sub-Brand
SAN DIEGO, April 19 Sony has established a new brand name, Alpha, for its digital single lens reflex (D-SLR) cameras that will be launched worldwide this summer. Meaning beginning and essential, the symbol alpha embodies the spirit of Sonys approach to the D-SLR market. Under this sub-brand, Sony will produce a complete camera system of accessories and lenses to enhance the enjoyment of photography. The Sony Alpha (TM) mount system of cameras, lenses and accessories will integrate advanced electromechanical technologies that are key to D-SLR performance, the versatility of the well-established Maxxum (R) lens mount system, and Sonys renown in imaging devices and technologies. These include CCD and CMOS imaging sensors, as well as other image processing technologies, in addition to overall product miniaturization. People who have already made investments in many of Konica-Minoltas lenses and accessories will be able to take full advantage of Sonys new D-SLR cameras.
"We are expanding our product portfolio to build upon our leadership position in the digital imaging business, said James Neal, director of marketing for digital imaging products at Sony Electronics.