Uk

two one-way tickets to Dublin, please

Earlier this week, I flew to my favourite city - Dublin.

Book the tickets online as normal. Check-in at the Aer Lingus self-service kiosk to get my boarding pass as normal.

My credit card isn’t recognised. No problem. Just use my passport instead. My passport isn’t recognised. No problem. Just enter my name instead. My name isn’t recognised. No problem. Enter my booking reference number. This isn’t recognised either. As this is the first time I have flown on Aer Lingus, I give up and queue up at the desk.

Rene Carayol's clever approach to taxation

I also enjoyed last night’s ‘Did they pay off their mortgage in two years ?’ about a likable creative artist from Cornwall who makes interesting, arty (and high margin) stoves from VW car parts aimed at rich people in South Kensington.

The last minute of the show was a real emotional roller coaster.

Firstly, I was delighted to hear the couple’s hard work had showed an unbelievable return of £104,000 profit but then shattered to hear they had fallen a paltry £1,500 of being able to pay off their mortgage in full.

can Gerry Robinson fix IT ?

I was fascinated by the ‘Can Gerry Robinson fix the NHS’ series broadcast on BBC2 this week.

Not because I learned a lot about how the NHS works. Not because I was staggered at the simplicity of Robinson’s approach. Not because I was surprised that Robinson managed to implement various changes to significantly reduce waiting lists at a Rotherham hospital in just 6 months.

I was fascinated because I have encountered so many of those issues, heard so many of those quotes verbatim and met so many of those stereotypes during 20 years in IT.

that's entertainment

Two paltry efforts by yours truly to brighten up everyone’s morning in the Brightside household.

1. I decided to hoist my boxer shorts as high as humanly possible in the style of Borat (although, disappointingly, mine are black not lime green). You can only imagine my wife’s surprise and delight when she (finally) emerged from the bathroom to be greeted by this unexpected and wonderful sight.

2. Fifteen minutes later, following a dramatic and rapid transformation, I have changed into an immaculate dark suit, freshly pressed, crisp white shirt and an expensive Italian silk tie. I lurk outside the lounge door humming the theme music from James Bond. The volume reaches a explosive crescendo and is climaxed with ‘The Man With The Golden Gun’.

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make your mind up

Americans see nothing but gloom and doom on the horizon in 2007.

No hang on - wait a minute. From the same poll, Americans are optimistic and hopeful for the coming year.

2006 roundup

• January - new sofa
• October - new kitchen table and chairs
• November - new coffee table

I just hope and pray that I don’t have to set foot inside a furniture store (or worse, Ikea) in 2007.

death of a tyrant

Hung from the gallows and simultaneously shot from a camera phone.

Xmas surprise

Cousin John called with best wishes for the New Year and just wanted to mention the Billy Connolly double CD. He was absolutely delighted with this thoughtful gift and was looking forward immensely to listening to it in the car.

I graciously accepted his thanks and reciprocated by thanking him for my M&S Men’s Grooming Set complete with black leather carry case. I assured him that when we next meet, my nasal hair will be trimmed, my bushy eyebrows will no longer meet in the middle and my ears will be fluff-free.

new homework excuse

‘Sorry Sir but I haven’t done my homework because I have really bad stomach ache.’

power dressing in reverse

In the 1980’s, some ladies chose to wear dark trouser suits and blouses in an effort to match their male counterparts in the workplace. This fad was known as ‘power dressing’.

One of my least favourite films is ‘What Women Want’ starring Mel Gibson. I also thought Kurt Cobain looked pretty cool in a dress and Dave Grohl managed to carry off wearing a bra (and a baseball cap) without looking ridiculous.