Why? Simply put, IT isn’t inspiring me any more…I work in it, I no longer bring it home. I use my netbook for convenience, I haven’t fired up the big one more than twice since Izzy was born. When I do find the time, I can’t find the will right now.

A lot is going on, no doubt there. However, priorities have been re-shuffled in the last 9 months, and some things need shifting “off the boil”. Home IT is one, web is another, Astra2 is another, etc.

So…for now, I’m leaving the site up (some people find the guides handy), but it’ll mostly be unattended. We’ll see what happens as things go on..:)

It was fun. Odd though. Parts of the school had changed (as they would in 16 years), but some parts were as if I’d left yesterday. Even the smells…the rooms still smelled the same, it was a real blast from the past. I’d say that the school seemed smaller, but then again sometimes it didn’t. New doorways, new layouts – I had quite a few “where the hell am I now?” moments.

I will admit to walking into some places and literally laughing out loud. So many memories of that place. Saw some of the old staff, and Penny Cooper the headmistress. Nice to see the staff there are reasonably constant – makes a change!

Some parts were more battered than I recall..the main science corridor is suffering nowadays. It’s not done badly though. The DT labs are still the same – I had to just stand and smile for a while there. Standing in my old tutor rooms at my old desks took me back. Met some old classmates in passing, and met up with Stuart Parr, his wife and kids, along with others.

I found myself thinking as we walked, using our walking sticks. I thought “what the hell happened?! Look at us now. Kids, creaking around the edges, sounding like our grandads..what would the Karl of 16 years ago make of this? Oh GODS…”. It was nice to meet people again and see how well they are, and meet their kids though.

I’ll make no secret of the fact that in an ideal world I’d quite like Isabel to go to WBS when she’s older…I feel the place gave me a damn good education and challenged me well, which is more than I can say for a lot I see nowadays. I even got nabbed in my old science room and talked into making a model of a caffiene molecule, then having my picture taken with it. THAT’S what science lessons lack now..balls on sticks.

I almost felt 16 again. I really did. Too much bloody IT in the classrooms mind you. It’s a curse. Yes, I KNOW I support it tech-wise, it doesn’t mean I agree with it all the time.

Then it was back to the car and drive back through 16 years worth of memories to the present day, back to Jem and Isabel. Would I change it? Nope. I’d hope Izzy does better than her old dad mind you..I was never the most academic child. Heh.

Isabel’s doing well..:) 6 month near enough now, she’s sitting up more or less unaided, she’s very vocal (singing, waffling), and we’ve now found “mumumum” and “babababa”, as well as shaking the head, spontaneous random laughter, she can’t quite crawl yet, but she’s pretty damn mobile and very strong indeed. Still a 99% happy child – it’s rare she’s upset. She’ll voice disapproval if she wants, but it’s over in seconds.

With luck, we’ll be starting to try her with soft foods and sticks of veg etc at the end of next week in her new IKEA high chair. I can’t tell you how much I’m looking forward to watching how she copes with that..:)

We’re still co-sleeping with her, no problems. In fact, I’d go so far as to say my alarm clock is unneeded now. 6am-7am, she’s awake. My first word to Jem this morning and Izz rolled over and put a hand over my mouth then smiled at me because she realised I was awake. I tell you, there’s no nicer way to wake up than to a happy baby lying next to you..heh.

Today it’s visiting parents and car rides..:) Quite a nice day in prospect too!

We’re varying in wakeup time from 7.30am-6am, and it’s not a huge problem. The clock change hasn’t made much difference either. She’s developed quite a character now too..we have frequent “singing”, lots of gurgly noises and exclaiming, and definite opinions on what she likes and doesn’t like now. Still lots and lots of big smiles and little crying. She actively searches us out now if she hears us, which is quite funny. In the morning she looks from Jem to me and back a few times, then starts to poke us to make sure we’re awake.

Such is the benefit of co-sleeping with her between us..you just cannot beat a big wide grin and a little finger up your nose as a way to start the day. :)

I can see crawling being on the cards very soon..she’s trying hard. When she manages it, oh boy are we in the poo.

Apart from Izz, not much changes. The Government are going all out to screw the motorist off the roads again with more fuel tax, which is rapidly accellerating towards the insane. Plus we have an election coming up. The problem is, I think they’re all as bent and useless as each other. None of them care about anything outside of london or their own pockets. Not all of us get such good public transport access FFS.

We need to sack the whole bunch off, and remove London as the seat of power…put the bastards out all over the country in the real world without all their perks and daft pay, let them rough it with the rest of us and see what they do then, that’s what I say. They’d not last 10 minutes.

I’d be depressed, except I’m actively trying to not be, for the sake of Izz/Jem. I’m just resigned to the fact that we’ll never have a decent government that either care about or truly represent the UK population. They’re all money grabbing, backstabbing, lying sexual deviants..yes, I do believe that covers all bases.

Work wise, things are OK..I think I’m mastering the Cisco CallManager quite nicely now. Next target is Windows deployment Services. The odd thing is, on the whole I’m losing interest in IT..is it being a dad? I have no idea. A lot of it is now “when I have the energy or inclination”, which is unlike the Karl of the last 15 years or so. It’s becoming more of a “thing that happens at work” and less of a hobby.

I’m feeling the pull of more “physical” things now, like electronics, electrical theory and so on…IT is much diminished..odd, that. :)

Glad we took lots of pics – you don’t see the growth day to day. Looking at her now and then, it’s remarkable. She’s still remarkably good tempered and patient, and she’s advancing fast. She’s a strong little tiddler, and now she’s discovered her voice and her toes, it’s getting really funny to be in the same room as her.

When Jem and Izz were in Hospital last week, this place felt wrong. I came home at 9pm-12am, and it just felt empty. I started sleeping down here on the futon, as it didn’t feel right to be upstairs in the bed we all share. It was too quiet, and it wasn’t fun. I got a fair insight into where the cats sleep though..Hex lies between the panels on the double radiator, fudgie sleeps on the beanbag.

Now they’re home again. Jem’s recovering OK, and Izz seems to have got a cold, and a routine that’s very messed up from all the early AM wakeup in the hospital. We’re awake at 5am, sleep is light and sporadic, and she looks exhausted. She’s quite happy though. :) It’s coming up to another probable growth spurt too, which is always..interesting.

I decided in the hopsital to overcome one of my great fears..that of carrying Isabel. It scares me as my disability means I’ve very unbalanced on my feet, and clumsy. I was petrified of dropping her. As it turns out, apart from making my arms and legs hurt a fair bit, she loves it! She just relaxes and starts poking and squeezing my jumper/neck. I’ve got a beastie “lovebite” on my arm as well, where she decided it was similar to a boob and had a good long chomp on it.

I’ve also discovered the joys of babywearing, using a sling to effectively tie and support the baby on my chest, leaving my arms free. It’s great. Today we were able to do the washing up, vacuum the house and make cuppas etc, while Izz was sleeping on me. Upstairs, downstairs, dyson on – she didn’t stir. Better than the pushchair for shopping and busses too! Makes me ache, but it’s worth it.

By 11am, we’d done everything..how ace is that? They liked it in the hospital too – I did circuits of the place with Izzy to send her to sleep, and had LOADS of people coming over to see us.

The downside? We’re all recovering now, we’re all a bit more tired than we’d like. Got loads of things left to do today as well..in fact I should go and make a start,,

3 house moves, 7 months of utter stress in flat #2, the hellhole.

Started the year owning a P reg Astra, had it totalled by an idiot, ended the year in an X reg Astra with an M reg as a backup.

Started the year recovering from pregnancy mishap, thinking “no more kids for a while”, ended the year with a beautiful daughter.

Moved from one old work building to a brand new one.

and many other smaller things to boot…it’s quite shocking when I look back at it! Overall, I’d class it as a win..I was annoyed with losing my much loved and looked after P reg, but the X reg isn’t a bad car either. The N reg was..a trying experience, we’ll see what 2010 brings there.

The last 6 weeks have been the longest of the year…so much changes when you have a child, and so quickly! I’m thinking differently, planning more, being more careful, looking ahead and working towards it, and..well..it’s given me a whole new outlook on things. PCs? Technology? Good, yes. All-important? Hell no. Family first, no arguments. Not just new members, but family in general..I have a list of things I intend to do this year that I’m not about to disclose (otherwise I’ll get nagged at, heh). I’m looking forward to getting stuck in there.

One BIG sad event this year was the loss of my grandmother, at a good old age. A definite character who looked after me when I was in and out of surgery, and taught me a lot about how to “make do and mend”, and not succumb to the modern “throw away” lifestyle. She probably didn’t realise it mind. I wish she’d had the chance to meet Isabel, I really do. I never expected to have kids, what with one thing and another…but she’s here, she’s healthy, and I’m still the genetic oddball of the family, so it’s all good.

What i shall be doing is telling her all about nan, and trying to encourage a similar attitude. I have several bits of nans furniture that’s been well used for the last 50-60 years, and bar a few repairs will almost certainly outlast me – you just don’t get that quality anymore.

As to the whole 2000-2009 decade thing…I remember sitting watching the millennium celebrations with Tom and Seal after coming back from the Benbow and thinking “Millennium dome? Waste of time”. It still is. In 2000 I was single, I owned a C reg banger, I was working 3 jobs part time, sleeping until midday most days, and doing 3am-7am connect 4 rallies at Riks house, followed by breakfast at the excellent Dinky’s Diner in Shrewsbury. Living at home, bumming around living a relaxed life, and spending Sunday nights at the excellent New Inn with Rik, Lynn, Bod, Cheryl, Tom, Seal, and occasionally Anthea and/or Phil.

I then started a 9-3 job at Madeley Court, I met a lot of excellent people including Jem, and things started to settle a bit. Fast forward to jem and me living at mums, then moving out to our first flat in Jackfield..then from there to Clarendon, and the rest as they say..is history! It’s taken me to a place I couldn’t have predicted back in 2000..and what a place it is. Have I changed? Oh yes.

However, I’m hoping to at least partially regroup the old team for another meal and drink at the New Inn..some things just HAVE to be done. I’m looking forward to catching up with people 10 years on…and so help me, if I can find Seal, I’m going to give that man a big kiss, because damn it all, I’ve missed him. All I’ll say, and I’ll only say it once…thank god for Facebook and Social Networking..I’ve reconnected with so many old friends, it’s quite scary! :)

So..there we go…damned if I know what 2010 will bring, but bring it on..

First, to close the last entry off, my ECU came back repaired a few days later..Bluestreak Europe are god. No arguments, they were perfect from start to finish. The X reg lives again.

The blue one is at mums, on ramps awaiting my attention. Thus far I’ve found the exhaust to be a total bodge..bolts? No. Cable ties and ceramic cement hold it together. I’m shocked. The Brake lines that were “done” look like spaghetti…really shit job there. The pedal now goes to the floor..it’s not right.

Further investigations are on hold though, as after a 12 hour labour, and the longest and scariest night of our lives thus far, Jem and I have been blessed with a baby daughter! Named Isabel, she’s taking all of our spare time right now. I’m taking a fortnight paternity leave to support Jem and bond with them both..it’s great – Burping, nappies, changing, feeding, washing…it’s all good. Even when she won’t settle and we’re up to 5am, even when she’s giving the lungs a good workout, it’s not so bad.

Mum and daughter are doing well…Shrewsbury Hospital and Bridgnorth Maternity – I can’t praise them enough. The care and reassurance we were given before, during and after Isabels arrival was immense. We wouldn’t have coped without it. Driving Jem to there I can recall..crap weather, bad night, 4 minute contractions and 20 miles ahead. Good fun. After that, it’s all hazy. I know I was asleep on my feet come the delivery, and Jem was utterly exhausted.

They’ve been home for 6 days now. It’s truly nice to have everyone “home” safe.

The Astra (X reg) died on us in traffic a week back. It’s looking like ECU failure. The Fuel pump relay turns off 15-20 minutes into a drive and won’t come back until the car has been sat for half an hour or so.

Using my OPCOM diagnostic unit and the TIS2000 DVD I got from eBay, I traced it all back and it looks to be pin 23 on the engine controller that should switch to earth, enabling the relay, has a problem. Not sure if it’s temperature or what, but it’s a pain.

If you short out the relay (I used tweezers), it runs perfectly. If you short pin 23 to earth, the relay works. Heyho.

ECU has been packed off to BlueStreak Europe for testing and repair (hopefully), with the keys and the immobiliser. They should be calling me tomorrow, and I’m expecting the ECU back in a few days..this company don’t hang about!

In the meantime we needed a vehicle as Jem is imminent to drop sprog. Automatics are hard to find..and I found a cheap MK3 1.4 3 door Astra a few miles away. “perfect” I thought.

Hmm. Yes. It’s done 76k. It’s MPi. The engine is simple. The car is simple. It’s covered in dents, has rust in them and has been neglected badly. It starts and runs…but as soon as you try to pull away at speed, you have lots of noise and no go at all. It really is alarming.

The Autobox has been refilled – it was near empty. It all seems OK in itself..it’s an AF13, like both the other Astras were. The engine is a C14SE, and runs nicely at idle. Yet working together it struggles to get to 40, and if you hit even a gentle hill, it drops off the speedo and roars while barely moving.

I popped the airbox open to check the airfilter. 3 things occurred. There was NO airfilter, the pipe from the box to the throttle body was split hugely, and the airbox fell off. Had to laugh.

I patched that up, we gained about 7mph. I cleaned the throttle body, we gained about 3mph.

Tonight I used the paperclip trick to read out the fault codes from the ECUs on the car. I can’t use my OPCOM, as this Astra has a 10 pin ALDL connector and is quite simply not advanced enough to plug into.

I got a “MAP sensor voltage high” from the engine, and 2 codes from the gearbox…one Selector signal issue, and one kickdown switch error.

I took the battery off to clear them, then I couldn’t restart the car! The battery earth terminal was mostly green and fluffy. I wire-brushed it, bits came off. After some gentle cleaning and praying, it works again now. But it does need chopping off and remaking.

All in all, the car is pretty damned solid. Underneath is near perfect. The exhaust has suffered a bit, but someone, sometime loved this car. Then someone else got hold of it and filled it full of dents, it got a smack in the face that resulted in a broken headlamp mount and an indicator held in with filler, and it got a “mutant” bootlid sticker.

Then it ended up in a dodgy backstreet dealership where it went through an MOT that HAD to be a bit iffy, and came to me much the worse for wear.

If I could sort out the “no go” problem, it’d be a decent little motor. I can fix all the issues with the other bits. If I could find the last owner, I’d beat them silly. Some people have no idea how to look after automatics.

Pics are here: Link

This is fine – it doesn’t bother me at all..:) In fact, I should have a machine by the end of Monday with all the software people asked for installed, ready to be cloned and rolled out after some testing.

The leg situation is still tedious, but I’m set on ignoring it. I have bigger fish to fry. We’re moving in 2 weeks, in theory! To a 200+ year old property, local to here in a quiet street, with NO neighbours adjoining or under/above us.

Therefore, sprog can arrive and can cry as much as it wishes, and I can get up in the night and sort it without worrying about the noise. MUCH better. The cats can be given free romping reign, and we can have some much needed dropping of stress levels.

It has an upstairs bath(no shower)/sink/loo, and a downstairs toilet/sink and a separate shower in the utility room. Bonus for me there. That means we can use the shower without stairs, and sprog can be bathed upstairs.

Lets just say it’s a weight off my mind…goodbye to the damp, the iffy plumbing, the sniffing and sneezing, coughing and wheezing, and the noise of living by a busy road. I’m demob happy, and that’s perfect.

I’ve even dinged the car, and just don’t care – how odd is that? I had to take an odd angle to exit a carpark due to another idiot motorist, and caught the car on a building. Dinged the rear wheelarch and scratched the paint.

Meh, I’ve touched it up – it’ll do for now.

The downside of the long hours is my mood took a turn for the worst. Between the work hours, the stress of “will it work?”, the lack of daylight, the damp and stress that comes with this flat, the fast approaching matter of parenthood, and the fact that due to all the running about, I’ve done something daft to my tendons again and am now back to feeling like I did when I was 12, I’ve had some epically low moments where I’ve just felt like giving up and quite frankly just breaking down in tears. Not like me.

Still…the mood is lifting slowly. Work is settling, the initial panic is over, the systems are haging together quite nicely, and now it’s time for the long hard learning curve. I can do that. Parenthood is just over 8 theoretical weeks away, I’m not worrying about that for some reason! You’d THINK I would be, but..no. It doesn’t register on my “panic-o-meter”.

The flat..well…we have new downstairs neighbours. They seem quite friendly! As a rule, so far they’ve been pretty quiet, and reasonable. That’s a marked improvement on the last lot of knobjockeys down there. I feel a bit happier in the flat now. It’s still got a BASTARD case of damp mind you, and if it makes US sneeze, I don’t really want sprog subjected to it. So we’re looking around, and need to see if we can get out of our 12 month contract early..currently at the 7 month marker. The fire escape back access and steep stairs main access means that sprog will be hard work for BOTH of us, let alone when I’m back to work and Jem’s here on her own. In terms of damp and access alone, this flat has become unsuitable. Add to that climbing the stairs is like agony right now, and we need to leave pre-sprog ideally.

As for my legs…sigh…I have a lump on the one achilles tendon, and it’s continually tensing up..so if I get up, I fall over. It also aches in a way that it hasn’t since I was 12. Dreading what that is. Need to make an appt with ShropDoc to get a physio appointment. Hopefully I’ve strained it and it’ll resolve itself…Taking time off work/weight off my legs is NOT an option for the forseeable future – we as a family need all the mobility I can muster!

It’s all fun, is this..

I topped the oil up last week. Thought nothing of it. The ePAS needs topping up, again, nothing unexpected. I called my Vauxhall dealer as I’ve read that the ePAS fluid is “special” – his take on it? “ATF is fine mate”. Lucky really – I have a big tub of ATF for the autobox. I thought the old astra used it in the PAS as well.

I decided to take the sparkplugs out. That was fun. NEVER before have I had a 2 handed wrestle with the wrench on sparkplugs. Well and truly seized in.

The plugs were Bosch dual electrode. Good stuff. The old Astra used type 000 GM dual electrodes. What was NOT good was the state of them. Crusty (but healthy colour – learn to read your plugs), and HUGE gaps between the outer ind inner electrodes. VERY worn.

I’ve just replaced them with some NGK Dual electrodes, should be good for a few years. The car is a lot more rev-happy now.

While doing this, I just had a peek at the air filter. It’s a pain and needs the pipe unhitching from the throttle body. The filter is black/grey throughout, should be yellow. It has a date of “10/2004″ on it! So..5 year old air filter, and I’d guess the plugs are about right for that age.

Yet this car came with a “full service”??? In fact, the book shows a full service history too..from WHOM? A blind mechanic? I’ll be ordering a new filter ASAP. I love home servicing..at least I know I’ve done it properly.